Tonsorial device



oct. 25, 1949. n N. HOLSCLAW 2,486,028

TONSORIAL DEVICE Filed March 30, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 TONSORIAL DEVICE Neil Holsclaw, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-half to Fred E. Sudlow, Rock Island, Ill.

Application March 30, 1946, Serial No. 658,551

9 Claims. (Cl. 30-213) This invention relates to improvements in hair cutting devices and more particularly to an implement having all the features of a hair clipper, a comb and a pair of shears embodied in a unitary device, all in Icooperative relationship to each other. This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications Serial N0. 659,581 filed April 4, 1946, for 'Ionsorial device; Serial No. 662,714 filed April 17, 1946, for Tonsorial device, now Patent No. 2,442,128, granted May 25, 1948; and Serial No. 662,715 led April 17, 1946, for Tonsorial device.

When cutting a head of hair, normally a pair of scissors, a hair clipper and a comb are used` to do the job. The comb must be used when either the clippers or the scissors is used; therefore, to do the job both hands of the hair cutter must be used at all times. The comb is normally used to lift the hair to a desired length, then the hair is cut over the comb, either with a pair of shears or a clipper.

It is the main object of this invention to combine all of these tools in one implement and to produce a device which is far superior to known devices; to produce such a device, designed so that any one can cut his own head of hair without having developed previous skill or having any knowledge of hair cutting; and to provide such a device in which both sides of the device may be used, thereby producing a tool which may be used with either the left or right hand of the operator.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved tool which may be used as a clipper, a comb, or a shears, all three being combined in a unitary structure; to provide a device of this character having a pair of coacting elongated toothed cutter members, each member arranged to be reciprocated in opposite directions simultaneously by manipulating a pair of pivotal handle members; to provide a device of this character having a resilient plate member to retain the cutter members in operative relationship; to provide a device of this character wherein the cutter members are operable on two faces thereof; to provide a device of this character having a pair of pivoted handles and a pair of link arms, each pivotally secured at one end to one of the handles and at the other end to one of the cutter members respectively, and spaced apart by a stationary guide bar whereby to cause each cutter member to reciprocate in an opposite direction upon manipulation of the handles; to provide a device of this character having rack and pinion gears in the handles thereof to provide positive movement of both cutters simultaneously and opposite directions; to provide means for controlling the movement of the handles toward each other; to provide cutter members in a device of this character which are removable from the driving mechanism readily replaceable; and to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top elevational view of my invention looking down at the cutter teeth.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof showing in dotted outline, one link arm swung free of the cutter members whereby to remove the cutter members.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view having a part broken away to show the link arm connection.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the cutter elements.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the limit block of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the limit block.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the handle members comprise lever arms l and 2 having offset collars or plates |.I and 2.| respectively at the front ends thereof. The arms I and 2 are pivotally held together in operative relationship by bolt 3 having nuts 4 at either end thereof which are secured in position against rotation after setting by set screws 5. It is to be noted that the axis of the bolt 3 is positioned above the longitudinal center line of the device as a whole.

The iiat stationary guide bar 6 is cleft endwise to form a slot l at its forward end while the rear end is provided with a circular oit-set extension or base 8 having a bore 9 therein positioned above the longitudinal center line of the device. The base 8 of the guide bar 6 is positioned between the oi-set collars I.I and 2.( of the handles and is held therebetween by the bolt 3 which is threaded through the aperture 9 contained therein.

A pair of link arms l0 and Il are movably positioned one on each side of the guide bar 6 and are pivotally secured at their rear ends to the lower portion of the collars |.I and 2.! respectively by rivets I4 and l5 so as to impart reciprocating movement to the link arms upon movement of the arms I and 2. An elongated wire spring l2 is bent back upon itself to form a substantially U-shaped clip having a saddle-like seat 13h12 the forward end thereof while the rear ends are secured. in any suitable manner, one to each side of the guide bar 6 at a point adjacent the base 8, whereby the clip spring I2 straddles the link arms I and II and the guide bar 6. The forward or free end of the link arms ID and II are provided with fingers I6 and Il respectively, the purpose of which is hereindescri'bed.

'Ihe handle levers I and 2 will automatically open or return to the position shown in Fig. 2 and are normally held in this position b-y the action of the leaf compression springs I8 which are secured therebetween in any suitable manner, such as by bolts I9. A limit block I8.I is secured to the upper portion of the base 8 (as viewed in Fig. 2) by a set screw IIl2` to limit the IIlOVement of the handle levers I andiv 2:.

A portion of each of the side faces of the block I8.I is diagonally disposed as at I8'.3 and' 18.4' respectively, whereby the seat faces I8.5 of the oilset portions I8.6 formed in the upper portion (as viewed in Figs.. 2` and 4) of the. collars I.I and 21 will bear thereagai-nst. It willbe apparent that the faces I8.3 and IBA of the block I8.I and the seat` facesA I8.5 are. substantially disposed in parallel planes. The block I8.I is centrally disposed in a rectangular socket 8.I contained in the base 8 of the guide bar 6 and it will be noted from Fig` 7 that the base 8 is -bored and internally threaded from the bottom wall of the socket 8.! to receive the vbolt I8.2. It will also be noted from Figs. 7 and 8 that the central portion of both faces of the block I8.I are vertically disposed whereby to snugly fit into the socket 8.I. It will now be apparent that the block I8.I is adjustable in av Vertical plane depending upon movement of the bolt I8.2. The higher the block I8. I, the more limited the movement of the handle levers I andi. and vice versa.

When two handles are secured together and move about a common pivot, as the handles of a scissors d0, it is necessary to .apply pressure equally to each handle in order to simultaneously move both blades the same distance. In order that both levers I and 2 move toward and away from each other in unison and to transmit equal reciprocal movement to the link arms I0 and I I arcuately shaped racks or gears v20 and 2I are secured by screws 22. in suitable seats 20.I and 2|.I respectively, and are located on the inner faces of the handle lever end of the collars I.I and 2.I respectively (see Fig. and a guide or pinion gear 23 is operatively secured therebetween to the rear end of the base 8 in any suitable manner, such as by va set screw 24.

It will now be apparent that when pressure is applied to either of thelevers I or 2, the action of the gears will cause both lever arms to move toward each other simultaneously and thereby transmit equal reciprocal movement to the link arms II! and II.

The removable cutter or toothed members 25 and 26 are identical in design and construction having relatively long slightly tapered teeth 21. The tapers also run laterally (see Figs. l and 2) so that when placed in face to face coacting relationship with each other, the composite structure thereof resembles a comb.

The members 25 and 26 are each respectively provided with an inwardly facing channel v28 and 29 respectively whereby to form a slideway for the guide bar 6 and to position the members 25 and 2S face to face with respect to each other.

Notches 30, which form seats, are located one in the end of each of the cutter members 25 and 26, and are adapted to receive the fingers I5 and 4 I1 of the link arm I0 and II. The fingers I6 and I1 are securely held in the grooves 30 by the spring clip I2 whereby the movement imparted to the arms Ill and II is imparted to the cutters 25 and 25 as will be apparent.

An inverted L-shaped spring plate 3l (see Fig. 6) is mounted to the outside face of the cutter member 25 by means of a pair of bolts 32 and 33 which are respectively inserted through slots 3@ and 35 lcontained in cutter member 25, and engage cutter member 26 by means lof suitably threaded aligned apertures contained therein. The plate is also provided with a slot 3I.2. The cutter member 25 is also provided with an elongated groove 25.i into which the horizontally extending portion SLI is arranged to seat. As shown in Fig. 6 the lower portion of plate 3l bears against the outer face of cutter member 25 adjacent the bottom thereof, while the free edge of the portion 3L! seats in the groove 25.! whereby the major portion of the inner faceof the plate 3l is not in Contact with the outer face of the cutter member 25 at all. As will be noted from Fig. 6, the bolts 32-33 are positioned adjacent the upper end of the spring plate 3l whereby to exert an even tension from its center in both directions, diminishing towards the ends.

As will be apparent from Figs. l. and 6, the members 25 and 26 are retained inl tense coactive relationship by the spring plate 3l, tension on which may be increased or decreased by .ma-- nipulating the bolts 32 and 33.

It will now be seen that when the handle levers Ii and 2 are pressed toward each other, the link arm I I will move or be pulled rearwardly (toward the handle) and hence the cutter member 25 as well, while the lever arm lll will move, or be pushed forwardly as will the cutter member 26. Therefore cutter members 25 and 26 will both positively reciprocate in opposite directions simultaneously.

When assembled, the teeth of both members 25 and 26 are in mutual alignment with each other;l

hence take on the appearance of a comb and may be used as such rfor combing the hair. When making a out, the hair is first combed downwardly in the direction of the shoulders with the device to straighten the same, then the device is moved in the opposite direction to lift the hair away from the scalp and outwardly to the position desired, so that the user may cut off thev amount of hair desired, by `closing the handle levers I and 2. While the handles are still closed, the device is moved away from the head and the handles opened by releasing the pressure of the ngers and allowing the spring I3 to force the handles outwardly. Now the hair is again` combed with the device to straighten the hair and the cutting step again repeated, until the hair is cut the desired amount.

It can readily be seen that by placing one of the outer faces flat against the neck'or skin of the user, the device acts as a ne clipper.

It is, therefore, apparent that this device does the work of the usual scissors, clippers and comb and it performs the function of all three of these devices and the device is capable of manipulation with the use of only one hand.

The long teeth, like a comb, pick up the hair and hold it firmly and `perfectly therebetween until the handles are closed to make the cut. y As the teeth are long and sturdy, they allow the hair that has been previously cut by the device to fall through the openings between the teeth so that only the hair which is desired to be cut remains between the teeth for clipping.

Regardless of whether or not the device is gripped in either hand, the cutting action of the members 25 and 26 will be the same as by closing the handle levers I and 2; the gears 20 and 2l transmit reciprocal movement to the link arms I0 and Il which in turn transmit reciprocal movement to both the cutter members whereby each one reciprocates in a direction opposite to that of the other simultaneously.

To disassemble for cleaning purposes, etc., the wire spring l2 is released from the link arms I0 and Il to allow the link armflngers I6 and I1 to move downwardly (see dottedline illustration in Fig. 2) and be withdrawn from the seat 30 whereby the cutter members 25 and 26 can then be slid off of the front end of the guide bar 6, i. e., moved to the left as viewed in the drawings.

It will be understood that numerous details of the invention herein shown and described may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described comprising a pair of reciprocating cutter members each having elongated teeth incorporated therein, a pair of handles having offset portions at their forward ends, said handles being pivotally connected together on a common axis, said pivot lying in a plane oiset from the longitudinal center line of said cutter members, gears on said handles, a stationary guide bar having offset base, said base being secured between said olfset portions of said handles by said handle pivot, a pinion on the base operatively connected to said handle gears whereby to positively cause said handles to move equally in opposite directions simultaneously, a pair of link arms one on each side of said guide bar, therear ends of each of said link arms being pivotally connected one to each of said handle offset portions, said cutter members being positioned one on each side of the forward end of said guide bar in face to face relationship and removably connected one to each of said link arms, whereby said cutter members may be readily removed from guide bar and link arms, and resilient tensioning means for securing said cutter members in assembled operative relationship, whereby when said handles are manipulated each of said cutter members will be reciprocated simultaneously in opposite directions.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said link arms are each provided with a lateral iinger and each of said cutter members is provided with a cooperating notch whereby to form seats for said lateral fingers, an elongated wire spring secured one end to said guide bar and the other end straddling said link arms intermediate their free ends, whereby to retain said link arms in positive operative position on said cutter members.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein a limit block is adjustably secured to said guide bar and spans said offset portions of said handle members, spaced stop shoulders on each of said oset portions of said handle members cooperatively associated with said limit block, whereby to control the limit of rotary movement of said oiset portions and hence said cutter members, said link arms each being provided with a lateral iinger, said cutter members each being provided with a notch whereby to form a seat for said lateral nger, an elongated Wire spring having one end secured to said guide bar, the other end straddling said link arms intermediate their free ends to normally keep them in substantially the same plane as said guide bar and to retain the forward ends of said link arms in positive cooperative position on said cutter members.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein one of said cutter members is provided with an elongated groove positioned below and adjacent the lower end of the teeth thereof, and wherein said resilient tensioning means for securing the cutter members in assembled operative relationship comprises a spring plate, one end thereof being elongated and substantially the length of said cutter members while the length of the opposite end is substantially shorter whereby the sides thereof lie in a diagonal plane; the long end thereof having an integrally formed lip thereon extending at right-angles to the main body of said plate; the free edge of said lip arranged to seat in said groove; said plate being cleft medially of the sides of said plate and said plate containing apertures therein adjacent the sides thereof, machine screws extending through the apertures in said plate and the cutter member next against the spring plate and secured to the other cutter member, whereby manipulation of said screws will cause said spring plate to increase or decrease the tension between said cutter members.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of reciprocating cutter members, spring means to retain said members in coacting face to face relationship, a pair of handle members pivoted together on a common axis, said pivot lying in a plane offset from the longitudinal plane of said cutter members, offset portions on the pivot end of said handle members, a guide bar extending forwardly from said oiset portions having a base, said base being positioned between said oiset portions and held therebetween by said handle pivot, a pinion secured to said base on its rear edge having its axis extending at right angles to the axis of said handle pivot, a rack on each of the inner faces of said oiset portions of said handles positioned in cooperative relationship with said pinion, the forward end of said guide bar extending between said cutter members, and a pair of link arms each pivotally secured at one end to one of said offset portions and at the other end each removably secured to one of said cutter members whereby movement of said handle members towards each other will cause said cutter members to reciprocate in opposite directions simultaneously.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said link arms are each provided with a lateral finger and each of said cutter members is provided with a cooperating notch whereby to form seats for said lateral fingers, and spring means to retain said lever arms in operative relationship on said cutter members.

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein means are provided on said base and handle offset portions to limit rotary movement of said handle offset portions and hence said cutter members.

8. In a device of the class described, a pair of reciprocating cutter members, spring means to retain said members in coacting face to face relationship, a pair of handle members pivoted together on a common axis, said pivot lying in a plane offset from the longitudinal plane of said cutter members, oiset portions on the pivot end of said handle members, a guide bar extending forwardly from said offset portions having a base, said base being positioned between said offset mechas 7 portions and held therebetween by said handle pivot, a vpinion secured to said base on its rear edge having its axis extending at right angles to the axis of said handle pivot, a rack on each of the inner faces of said offset portions of said handles Positioned in cooperative relationship with said pinion, the forward end of said guide bar extending between said cutter members, a pair of link arms each pivotally secured at one end to one of said offset portions and at the other end each removably secured to one of said cutter members, whereby movement of said handle members towards each other will cause said cutter members to reciprocate in opposite directions simultaneously, limit stops on each of said handle oiTset portions, and adjustable means on said base having cooperative relationship With said limit stops whereby to limit rotary move- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,627 Tollmann Sept. 9, 1930 2,409,281 Holsclaw Oct. 15, 1946, 

